Test-day logistics

What Are the CASPer System Requirements? Devices, Webcam, and Internet

You need a desktop or laptop running Windows or macOS, the latest version of Chrome or Firefox, a working webcam and microphone, and an internet connection of at least 1.5 Mbps download and 2 Mbps upload. Phones, tablets, iPads, and Chromebooks are not supported. Sort this out before you book, not the night before, because the wrong device is the most avoidable way to lose a test date.

Which devices can you use for CASPer?

A desktop or laptop running Windows or macOS, and nothing else. Acuity Insights, the company that runs Casper, states that the test must be completed on a computer and that smartphones and tablets, including iPads, are not supported. Hybrid 2-in-1 devices like the Microsoft Surface, along with Linux and ChromeOS machines, are flagged as likely to have technical issues, so they are not a safe choice even when they seem to load the page.

This trips up more applicants than any other requirement because a Chromebook or an iPad is the only computer many students own. If that is you, plan early: borrow a friend's or family member's laptop, book a library or campus computer in a private room, or use a school laptop-loan program. Whatever you choose, you need it for the full 65 to 85 minutes of the current format, not just the login.

Which browser does CASPer support?

The latest version of Chrome or Firefox. Acuity says other browsers, including Safari, are not supported, which is why a Mac still needs Chrome or Firefox installed even though Safari is the default. Update the browser a day or two before the test so an automatic update does not interrupt you mid-scenario, and close every other tab, video call, and download so nothing else is fighting for your camera or bandwidth.

What internet speed do you need for CASPer?

At least 1.5 Mbps download and 2 Mbps upload, according to Acuity. Those are modest numbers, but upload matters more than people expect because the video section streams your recorded answers. A wired Ethernet connection is more stable than Wi-Fi. If you can only use Wi-Fi, sit close to the router and ask everyone else in the house to stay off streaming, gaming, and large downloads during your test window.

Run a quick speed test on the same connection and time of day you plan to test. If a public or campus network blocks webcam access or throttles video, you want to discover that in advance, not during the video responses. Our guide to where to take Casper covers how to judge a room and a connection before you commit to it.

Webcam and microphone requirements

You need a working webcam and microphone, and both must stay on for the entire test except during scheduled breaks. A laptop's built-in camera and microphone are fine, and Acuity actually recommends wired inputs or your computer's built-in microphone over wireless gear. Wireless earbuds and microphones such as AirPods can lose their connection partway through, which is the last thing you want during a one-minute video response.

Before the test, confirm the camera and mic work in another application like Zoom or Teams, and make sure your browser has permission to use them. Position the camera so your face is clearly visible in normal lighting, and avoid sitting with a bright window directly behind you. If a device breaks mid-test, our guide to Casper technical issues walks through what to do in the moment and the 24-hour window to report a problem.

Run the official system requirements check

Acuity provides a free system requirements check and a practice test inside your account, and running it is the single most useful thing you can do before test day. The check verifies your device, browser, camera, microphone, and connection so you are not troubleshooting hardware while a scenario timer runs.

1. Log in to your Acuity Insights account on the laptop you will use for the real test.
2. Open the system requirements check and practice test from your dashboard.
3. Run it on the same browser, camera, and internet connection, not a different device.
4. Fix any warning it raises, then run it again until everything passes.
5. Repeat the check the day before, since browsers and drivers update quietly.

The system check confirms your equipment. It does not prepare you for the actual questions. Once your setup passes, spend your remaining time on timed reps: our free Casper practice test lets you rehearse typed and video answers under the real clocks on the same machine you just verified.

Common problems and quick fixes

Most test-day tech failures come from a handful of avoidable causes. Work through these before you contact support:

• Camera not detected: refresh, update the browser, try the other supported browser, or open an incognito window, then re-check browser permissions.
• Unsupported device warning: you are on a Chromebook, tablet, or 2-in-1. Switch to a Windows or Mac laptop.
• Choppy or frozen video: close other tabs and apps, switch from Wi-Fi to wired, and ask others to pause streaming.
• Audio cutting out: swap wireless earbuds for a wired headset or the built-in mic.
• Browser update mid-test: update Chrome or Firefox a day early so it does not restart during a scenario.

Room and setup checklist

The requirements above cover the machine. The room is your responsibility too, since Casper comes to your computer rather than a test centre. Aim for a quiet, private, well-lit space where you will not be interrupted for the full session, with a charger plugged in and notifications silenced.

• Supported laptop or desktop, charger connected.
• Latest Chrome or Firefox, other tabs and apps closed.
• Webcam and mic tested and permitted in the browser.
• Wired internet if possible, household streaming paused.
• Government-issued photo ID ready for identity checks.
• Water, scratch paper, and a quiet hour blocked off.

For the full test-day routine, from arrival time to breaks, use our Casper test day guide. If you have not booked yet, the registration guide explains account setup, ID, and score distribution.